Syllabus

Social Science 2501 Syllabus

Social Science 2501

Survey of Social Science and Contemporary Issues

Classroom Course

Fall 2006

Dr Hugh M Arnold, Clayton State University

Social Science 2501: MWF 10:30—11:20am, G229

Office: A & S 105-C (old G bldg) Department of Social Sciences

Phone: (678-466-4801) (voice mail)

E-mail: hugharnold@mail.clayton.edu

Class list-serve: SOSC2501-01fall06@list.clayton.edu

Website: a-s.clayton.edu/Arnold/

OFFICE HOURS: MWF 9:30—10:30

MW 3:00—4:30pm

Tuesday 9:00—12 noon

Required Text:

Thomas Dye and Brigid Harrison, Power and Society – An Introduction to the Social Sciences (10^th edition), Thomson-Wadsworth, 2005.

Brigid Harrison, Study Guide to Accompany Power and Society.

The text and the Study Guide are now sold in one package by the CSU bookstore.

Atlas of some type. The Clayton State University Bookstore has an excellent and reasonably priced Atlas, but any will do.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites as such for this course. This is an interdisciplinary social science course which integrates all the social science disciplines. Any history courses taken, POLS1101, PSYC1101, SOSI1101, and economic courses you have had will help you in SOSC2501.

Description/Course Objectives:

SOSC2501 is an interdisciplinary survey of the social sciences with emphasis upon methods of inquiry used to examine America ’s contemporary social, economic, political and global problems. The text introduces students to key concepts in anthropology, sociology, economics, psychology, political science and history. We will study in depth such contemporary issues as ideological conflicts, crime and violence, poverty and inequality of wealth, the budget process and the national debt, and issues in international relations such as the war in Iraq and terrorism.

Each student in this course is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets approved hardware and software requirements for the student’s academic programs and this course. See http://itpchoice.clayton.edu for full details of this policy. For SOSC2501 the students must have an email account/address, the ability to use search engines and do basic PowerPoint.

Schedule and Grading System:

The course is divided into four units with several chapters covered in each section. Each test will be a 100 point test and will count equally, i.e., 25% each. Each unit/test will have an internet exercise with it, which will count 5-10 pints on the test. The tests will be a combination of short answer/definitions, fill-in-the-blanks and objective questions. You should make extensive use of the Study Guide. It points out key concepts to the student and give sample questions which will help you study for the in-class tests. Many questions on the tests will be taken from the SG.

It is very important that you keep up with the readings in the textbook. There is not time to go over all the material in the book in class – the purpose of class is to cover additional and related material, not to imply repeat what the textbook says. The SG should be very helpful in pointing out the most important elements in the book.

Note:

The internet assignments will be explained on separate handouts; they are due the class before each scheduled test.

Accommodations: To obtain this document in an alternative format and request accommodations, please contact: Disability Services Coordinator, 770-961-3719, or

disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.

Reading Assignments:

These may have to be modified during the semester if it becomes necessary. Any changes will be explained in class.

UNIT I – chapters 1, 5 and 13. Introduction to power and the social sciences. Scientific method, demography, world population trends, social class and community.

UNIT II – chapters 3, 7 and 8. Ideologies: economic and political. Budget process, national debt, government and the economy, culture and power.

UNIT III – chapters 10, 11 and 12. Power and personality, race and gender welfare and poverty, crime and violence.

UNIT IV – chapters 9 and 14. US history. Global relations, US foreign policy, terrorism, selected topics dealing with the US role in the word.

Final Exam is __________________________.

Course Requirement: Access to communication between the instructor and students will require use of CSU email: The instructor will only respond to CSU email messages from students. Go to http://thehub.clayton.edu and click “Service” for information on configuring your laptop computer to comply with CSU IT requirements. You must have your laptop computer configured to access CSU email. You will need to take your laptop computer to the HUB, located in the ground level of the University Center . You should have our computer configured and set up for CSU email before classes begin. The phone number for the HUB is 678-466-4357.

Course Expectations/Miscellaneous Information:

Each student is expected to attend all classes, participate in class discussions, take all tests and turn in all internet/research assignments.

Students must abide by policies in the CSU Catalog and Student Handbook. Please turn off all cell phones and pagers before class. We want to encourage class discussion, but please avoid extraneous talking in class which disturbs your neighbors and the entire class. Children are not permitted in any CSU classroom under any circumstances, nor may they be left unattended anywhere on campus.

Finally, in a course entitled “contemporary social issue” it is important to keep up with current events through reading a major newspaper such as the AJC or New York Times, a newsweekly such as Time or Newsweek, and any of the major electronic media news sources.

Attendance: Attendance will be taken each class session.

CSU Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students' ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.